Finland is leading the way in a joint vaccination program for farm owners and farmers who have regular contact with livestock and poultry, as it becomes the first country to implement such a measure. The program began on July 2, with Finland procuring enough vaccines to inoculate 10,000 individuals, each receiving two doses.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has identified eligible individuals for vaccination as those aged 18 and above who are at high risk of contracting avian influenza due to their occupation or other factors. This group includes workers on fur farms, livestock and poultry farms, laboratory technicians handling influenza virus samples, and veterinarians involved in animal control. Additionally, people working in conservation areas, wild bird care, and animal by-product processing plants will also be vaccinated. Close contacts and suspected cases will be vaccinated in the event of human cases being detected.
While Finland has not reported any human cases of bird flu, it is taking a proactive approach to minimize the risk of transmission from fur farms. An outbreak of bird flu in mink and outdoor fur farms last year led to the culling of approximately 485,000 animals in Finland to prevent the spread of the virus to humans. Avian influenza comprises various strains of influenza A viruses that primarily impact birds but can also infect non-avian species, including humans. Of these strains, H5N1 is prevalent among wild birds worldwide, posing a risk to humans and other animals through transmission via saliva, mucus, and feces.
The United States experienced a rapid spread of H5N1 among dairy herds earlier this year leading to isolated human cases that surprised scientists due to its jump from cattle to humans. Several countries have previously recorded sporadic cases of bird flu including Cambodia
